Summary

Martina visits Eliza Polk, and Simon attempts to climb onto the roof in order to clean the solar panels. Having given half of the ladder away, he requires Sarat and Dana’s help to keep the ladder stable, but he fails to keep his grip and falls. The children watch the boat traffic on the river, and Dana wonders if her father might be aboard one of them. She asserts that “Mama says Daddy’s in the North” (35), but Simon says that Martina mother is lying. Polk’s offers her house to the rebels, who transform it into a makeshift military encampment. Polk facilitates a meeting between the rebel commander and Martina, who is searching for asylum.

Polk introduces Martina to the commander, saying that her “husband was martyred” (37). Martina asks him about an asylum house for martyr widows, but the commander turns her...